67’s win fifth straight in Niagara
On a night where the Ottawa 67’s extended their winning streak to five games, the scoreboard may have belied the true nature of the game.
Ottawa outshot the Niagara IceDogs 48-31, and had two goals taken off the board, but still earned a 3-2 road win, Saturday night. Cameron Tolnai had a goal and an assist, with Brady Stonehouse scoring on the powerplay, and Brad Gardiner tallying the eventual game winner in the third period. Collin MacKenzie made 29 saves in goal, for his 16th win of the year.
The opening frame saw Ottawa outshoot Niagara 20-4, all told, but it’d be awhile before they found themselves rewarded. Just over 16 minutes in, a flurry of penalties saw the 67’s killing a four-on-three situation, but took they opportunity to go on the offensive. Matthew Mayich streaked in on a two-on-one with Tolnai, and when the defender’s initial shot was stopped, the OA forward calmly potted the rebound, for his league-leading fifth shorthanded goal of the season.
The 67’s appeared to make it 2-0, with a goal off the stick of Cooper Foster, but the puck was ruled to be kicked in by Will Gerrior, after a brief review.
Niagara got themselves into some penalty trouble of their own in the second period, with Daniel Michaud taking consecutive goaltender interference penalties for running into MacKenzie. After the second of his infractions, Stonehouse quickly roofed his 33rd of the season early into the powerplay, making it 2-0.
Declan Waddick got one back for the IceDogs a little over a minute later, but Ottawa restored their two-goal lead in the back end of the frame, thanks to Gardiner. The 2023 NHL Draft prospect collected a Gerrior rebound at the side of the net, and waited out Owen Flores, before beating him five-hole.
Tolnai thought he had his second of the game in the early third, but Caden Kelly was pushed into Flores, and another review went the way of the IceDogs, keeping this a 3-1 game.
David Jesus scored with 1:38 to play, as the IceDogs pulled the goalie for the extra attacker, but that would be as close as the home side would get, as the Barber Poles held on for a 3-2 victory.
They’ll look to extend their winning streak to six, tomorrow afternoon, when they wrap up their weekend with a visit to the Hamilton Bulldogs at 4:00pm.
